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      The Firefly

      Released Nov 5, 1937 2h 11m Musical List
      Reviews 50% 100+ Ratings Audience Score As Napoleon plots to take over Spain, Nina Maria Azara (Jeanette MacDonald), a beautiful singer, travels to Bayonne as an undercover spy accompanied by Don Diego (Allan Jones), a French spy she believes to be a Spanish nobleman. The two fall in love. When her attempts to relay information to the Spanish about France's plan to force King Ferdinand VII to step down are sabotaged, she realizes Diego is a spy and flees. Five years later, with France and Spain at war, the two are reunited. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jun 28 Buy Now

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      The Firefly

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      Audience Reviews

      View All (8) audience reviews
      Audience Member Lavish MGM operetta drags on and on, but Jeanette sings "Sympathy" and Jones steals the show with "The Donkey Serenade." Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Jeanette MacDonald plays Nina Maria, a vivacious singer who has captured the hearts of all the men in colonial Spain and France during the time of Napoleon. The secret of Nina is that she is a sort of spy who is attracting French officers to get information about Napoleons plans to invade Spain. As she is trying to dissuade a French officer to go on to the next one she kisses a Spanish gentleman who becomes enamored with her and follows her to her next mission, to sing for a large group of French officers in Vitoria. He interferes with her plans on getting information from a French Colonel. Jeanette lights up a room with her voice and her dazzling smile, which has to be one of the best in the history of film. But there is deceit as the Spanish gentleman is actually a French spy and they have suspected Nina for some time and they are out to catch her. But she is smart enough to realize that she is a suspect and does not fall into their plan. Napoleon does take over Spain and with the help of the English there is war. Toward the end of the war Nina is asked to go undercover as a gypsy behind French lines where she meets up with Colonel who is now in charge of the army. She gets caught and meets up again with Captain Andrea (Allen Jones). She fools both of them into changing their battle plans for Spanish victory. It gets a little ridiculous as she sings while in jail as the town is being shelled. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member another sparkling macdonald MGM musical Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member sorry have 2 use the pun macdonald lights up the screen Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty much nobody has seen this musical. And I think I know why. It's hard to watch a movie when Jeanette MacDonald is in the arms of a man besides Nelson Eddy but watch it I did. And I will say it and say it again, " This musical touched my heart and left me wanting to see it again." Sure it's not Nelson Eddy. But Allen Jones is cool too. This is the ONLY movie I've seen with the man so I don't have a lot of proof when it comes to his coolness meter. Allen Jones was ever so much the hero in my eyes at the end of the film and I am very picky about my heroes. The story was very badly filmed. Boosting Jeanette's singing rep might have been the reason why the story happens at the end of the film- because the first of the film is all singing. The songs make up for that though. The Donkey Serenade. Never expected such a bouncy, un-operatic song to me in a Jeanette MacDonald film. Of course, Jones was the one singing it. The romance number Jones sings to MacDonald near the middle of the film (it's the one in the garden, it's name escapes me), was beautiful. If I enjoyed Opera, I would never mind if a lover sang that song to me. And what intrigue! Jeanette MacDonald, a spy. That doesn't happen everyday. An inspiring story that I wish everyone knew about. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Allan Jones and Jeanette Macdonald are at their best in their only starring role! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Photos

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      The Firefly

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (2) Critics Reviews
      Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine The production is very handsome, however, and so are the principals. Jul 23, 2019 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television OK operetta has some good tunes. Oct 2, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis As Napoleon plots to take over Spain, Nina Maria Azara (Jeanette MacDonald), a beautiful singer, travels to Bayonne as an undercover spy accompanied by Don Diego (Allan Jones), a French spy she believes to be a Spanish nobleman. The two fall in love. When her attempts to relay information to the Spanish about France's plan to force King Ferdinand VII to step down are sabotaged, she realizes Diego is a spy and flees. Five years later, with France and Spain at war, the two are reunited.
      Director
      Robert Z. Leonard
      Screenwriter
      Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Otto A. Harbach, Ogden Nash
      Distributor
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.
      Production Co
      Metro Goldwyn Mayer
      Genre
      Musical
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Nov 5, 1937, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jun 28, 2016
      Runtime
      2h 11m
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